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Saturday, April 1, 2017

All-Time Favorite Books (Part 3): Staff Picks

Posted by StaffWe
recently asked the staff here what their all-time favorite books were.
Some of us had a hard time picking only one, but we did limit ourselves
to five. What is your all-time favorite book?

Jill

Stoner by John Williams If you like literary fiction, this is a masterpiece! It is bleak with little plot (right up my literary fiction alley) but you still won’t be able to put it down, because it is written so beautifully.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders – (NEWLY RELEASED) This book will take what you think of a historical novel and turn it upside down! Saunders’ approach is so unusual that I have never read anything like it. The novel takes place in one single night in one place with dozens of voices telling the story. Kirkus describes it as based on “ a moment of historical ephemera – the report of an 1862 visit by then President Abraham Lincoln to the crypt of his 11-year-old son Willie – as a launching point for a remarkable inquiry into life and death and love and moral responsibility.” I read the book & listened to the audiobook (available on our CloudLibrary), and both versions are wonderful. Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra Perla by Carolina De RobertisI would group these books together, because they are both intense, tragic and hauntingly beautiful stories set in times of war. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading these books, and while the descriptions of the cruelties make you feel desperate at times, they are both finally about hope and redemption. I was a sobbing mess at the end of Perla (but in a good way).

Just Mercy by Bryan StevensonThis is my non-fiction favorite, because I think this book is so powerful and eye-opening that you are changed by reading it.

Gwen

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers I believe it was around 2002 when I found this book while browsing the shelves of the library and I have read again once a year ever since. Everything about this book is interesting and thought provoking for me from the fact that it was originally a romance novel to how it is based on the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. The author does a wonderful job creating the characters and making a world that you want to stay in with the characters until the end of the journey of the book. The reason I reread this every year is because there is always something for to gain from that I might not have picked up in the first reading.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya AngelouI read this book when I was 16 years old and the contents have stayed with through the years. For several reasons, I could identify with Maya Angelou when she decided never to use her voice again because she felt like it killed someone, it totally made sense to me. Angelou colorfully explains how living in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas affected who she became on a major level. For anyone struggling with understanding race relations in America, this a must read.

Lisa

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut I like it because it makes me think about war, war's effect on people's lives, and many other things. I admire how the author can say a lot using few words. Part of the reason I'm drawn to this book, I feel, is because my dad was injured in the Korean War and never talked about it. For whatever reason, I connect with this book and always find something new in it.

Zach

American Gods by Neil GaimanI first read this book in my early teen years and I credit it with being the book that got me into reading. This book also got me hooked on learning about mythology. Red Rising by Pierce BrownAn epic trilogy that has elements of the Hunger Games and A Song of Ice and Fire (both of which I enjoyed). Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsThis was one of the first books to ever make me laugh out loud, and it has stayed as solid each time I’ve reread it – for that, it will always stand out in my mind as a must-read classic. Last Chance to See by Douglas AdamsIt’s lesser known that Adams took a trip to see some of the world’s endangered animals in an attempt to raise awareness for them and see what the world might soon lose. The sincerity and humor of the book make it stand out as a book that should be read by those who appreciate Adams’ style and who are fascinated by animals.

Katherine

Night Circus by Erin MorgensternThis book is the first I can remember reading in which I was completely absorbed because of the beautiful writing and amazingly crafted descriptions. Ever since reading it I have been on the hunt for books like it. It is a gorgeous book!My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik BackmanI love this book for its fantastic storytelling and the emotions that come from reading it. I appreciate authors that make you feel things and Fredrick Backman is a master. This book mixes and combines events occurring in the "real" world with things that have occurred in a world created by a loving grandmother for her granddaughter. Very imaginative and beautifully written.Memory Wall by Anthony DoerrThis book helped me discover that I don't hate short stories! All of the stories in this book are interconnected and woven together in an amazing way and I loved discovering the common elements running through them.